Environmental Performance of Steel Grit and Specialty Sand as Abrasives

Dry abrasive blasting is a surface preparation process used in shipyards for cleaning the surfaces of the metal plates to be used in various components of the ship. Commonly used abrasives include sand, steel grit, mineral abrasives, metallic abrasives, and synthetic abrasives. The basic objective of this study was to understand the environmental performance of two abrasives, Steel Grit and Specialty Sand. The project was funded by the Gulf Coast Region Maritime technology Center (GCRMTC) and USEPA. It simulated actual blasting operations conducted at shipyards under enclosed, controlled conditions on plates similar to steel plates commonly blasted at shipyards. The emissions were measured using EPA Source Test Method to quantify particulate emissions. Steel Grit was observed to be more productive, less consuming, and more environmentally friendly compared to Specialty Sand. The findings obtained in this study will be valuable in reducing costs, improving productivity, and protecting the environment.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year

2004

Author dc:creator

• Silvadasan, Xavier

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kura, Bhaskar
• Cothren, Gianna
• McManis, Kenneth

• Silvadasan
• Xavier
• abrasives
• blasting
• Sivaramakrishnan
• Kura
• UNO
• New Orleans
• Sampling
• Field rate

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/200

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1204